tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post4631280995374568998..comments2024-03-25T19:18:14.047-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: American Idol: Are you ready for the finale?Alan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-44323884408195299712009-05-27T12:10:48.231-04:002009-05-27T12:10:48.231-04:00A NY Times article about it:
http://www.nytimes.c...A NY Times article about it:<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/business/media/27idol.html?_r=2KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-41503126307879766352009-05-25T07:32:02.425-04:002009-05-25T07:32:02.425-04:00I have no idea if it's true or not (though I r...I have no idea if it's true or not (though I really doubt it), but when I started hearing about that a couple of days ago I googled and it appears that the majority of comments and claims on this subject come from a dude named Dan (who is seriously spamming any reality board he can find) and a chick named Kerry. Although, to be fair, they could easily be the same person. It's long, cut and pasted diatribes and about half of it doesn't even qualify as conspiracy theory since it's all common sense to the tween text voters anyway. Nevermind that I'm not sure how it's "not fair" for Kris Allen fans to publicly post tips on how to maximize your voting time. Pretty sure I saw plenty of people bragging about how many times they got through for Adam, so it's not like mass texting/voting is limited to one contestant, it's open to anyone who knows how to do it. <br /><br />As for the phones, I'm going to guess that, if any of it is true, just like in the early years (it seems to have dropped off in recent years) voting parties had AT&T phones available and plenty of party guest willing to sit there and hit redial/resend. If AT&T provided them free of charge I would be really surprised. It's a reality show contest that AT&T makes money off of. They're going to give up money just because they like some kid from Arkansas more than some dude from California? I doubt they care who wins.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-49227288010549329192009-05-24T09:47:03.902-04:002009-05-24T09:47:03.902-04:00Alan, is it true that AT&T was holding events ...Alan, is it true that AT&T was holding events in Conway giving out phones, giving phones to councilmen, giving out phones with California numbers, having events on campus, in hotels, having batteries and “charging stations” available and training people to “power text”?<br /><br />Isn't At&T a sponsor of the show? If this is true, and they did not do the same for Adam, how is this competition fair?KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-91098048481081810102009-05-22T11:34:19.697-04:002009-05-22T11:34:19.697-04:00Being hostile and condescending really is kinda th...Being hostile and condescending really is kinda the point of responding to a comment in a blog. I mean, other than the fawners. Right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-56225085729723610962009-05-21T19:10:29.346-04:002009-05-21T19:10:29.346-04:00I rarely care too much about any finalist, even my...I rarely care too much about any finalist, even my "pick" (and I never voted before), but I became a HUGE fan of Adam over this season - and I think the people mentioning how he seems out of his time are pretty spot on. I am a Gen-X-er, musical taste formed by the likes of Freddie Mercury/Steve Perry/George Michael up through some wailing hair metal singers and Chris Cornell. <br />There were so many times when Adam's singing hit the HELL YEAH spot for me, and I'm sure has everything to do with my generational experiences. I REALLY hope he finds a way to make popular music, because I would listen to him sing a phone book, but being a Broadway star isn't too shabby either.<br /><br />Kris was great in his way, which was less compelling to me personally, but I totally see why others like him. I think the underdog story is exactly right and the judges just made worse. Americans luuuve the come from behind win.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17264035614917159075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-10045487579580476862009-05-21T18:36:21.910-04:002009-05-21T18:36:21.910-04:00The commenters on the NJ blog almost make the Moon...The commenters on the NJ blog almost make the Moonlight freak shows seem normal. <br /><br />I was happy to see Kris and Adam as the finalists because Danny really annoyed me. Although I preferred Adam over Kris, I don't think he was horrible. I think he won because it seems more likely that he benefited from Danny's votes, in addition to his own fans. While I don't think Adam lost because he may or may not be gay, I do think that there are some people out there that hated him for that reason. I also think that even more people hated him as a result of the excessive judge pimping.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317568565085893849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-40913111534977647922009-05-21T16:21:22.536-04:002009-05-21T16:21:22.536-04:00All you have to do is cruise a few web sites to se...All you have to do is cruise a few web sites to see how many people, for whatever reason, really hated Adam.<br />More than the question of his sexuality, it seems to be based more on how hard the show allegedly pushed him down everyone's throats. The harder they shoved, the more these people seemed to see Adam as a over-blown ego maniac.<br /><br />Whatever the coupling of the final two, there would be the same conspiracy theories, arguing over who was better and who's going to last the longest.<br /><br />I, myslef, am content to sit back and just watch what happens. They will either go on to stardom, or they won't. Sitting around spanking the issue all day won't change the result in the end.KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-73121206092420234262009-05-21T14:03:44.511-04:002009-05-21T14:03:44.511-04:00@Hyde: Remove anything involving sexuality from th...@Hyde: Remove anything involving sexuality from the mix and consider that that's true to some extent every season. It's just generally seen as a broader issue and once you get down to the final three or four you have people throwing their votes towards the person that they *don't* blame for sending their fave home. A couple of weeks ago fans of both Allison and Kris (the latter of which were bemoaning how horrible Kris must have felt as if that has anything to do with anything) were angry with Danny because he stayed while she was sent packing. Daughtry fans lost their minds when the conspiracy theory made the rounds that his numbers were being rerouted to Kat's numbers and people who thought they were voting for him voted for her. That could only help Taylor. I think there's definite truth to the idea that when you get to the final rounds people are voting against certain people, but I think it's very unlikely that Adam's sexuality played any key role in it. Naturally you could break it down further into the "Danny's the Christian music teacher" vs. "Adam's the ambiguous dude with the Hot Topic gift card" but even though I certainly think there are people out there who are drawn to one or the other for very personal reasons, I don't think it's enough to make a difference. <br /><br />Interestingly, from what I've seen, a lot of the Kris die hards seem to really like Adam and obviously there are entirely too many Kris/Adam shippers out there chattering on. Their problem was most definitely Danny, who was very similar to Kris in a lot of ways. Danny's fans' problem seems to very much be Adam, which put them in league with a bunch of Kris fans who didn't like them in the first place. It happens.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-35442414926909449422009-05-21T13:46:23.044-04:002009-05-21T13:46:23.044-04:00@mrsb: It's interesting you mention how well Adam ...@mrsb: It's interesting you mention how well Adam and Kris worked together on "We Are the Champions," and it's clear the two men really like each other. By contrast, Kris and Danny were oil and water on their duet, and I haven't seen any evidence that the men are more than merely cordial with each other. And yet, one reason many thought Kris the chance to pull the upset was that Kris would have some sort of natural advantage with Danny's voters. Since Kris and Danny don't share a similar performing style and didn't appear close, the reason for believing in this advantage (correctly, as it turns out) seems to lie in something beyond just music. That's what some of us who find troubling undertones in this result are alluding to. <br /><br />Unless Kris has songwriting chops, I see little prospect he'll be able to build a career unless he heads to Nashville. Removed from the imperative to Stop! Adam!, I can't imagine anyone will stay enthusiastic about him.<br /><br />By the way, I concur with those who don't believe the result was fixed. Why Idol would have any interest in insuring that a popularity contest was won by someone other than the most popular really escapes me.Hydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03984348525069741897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-36237743277569754312009-05-21T12:55:09.016-04:002009-05-21T12:55:09.016-04:00Alan:
The producers and judges were in the tank t...Alan:<br /><br />The producers and judges were in the tank together. It's all part of the set-up. They helped to build expectations. Then they dropped the bomb.<br /><br />(Paula was not told anything about this.)<br /><br />Word Verification: STING. (do you need more proof than that!!?)Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05135139008278044619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-57940203530826887792009-05-21T12:34:34.604-04:002009-05-21T12:34:34.604-04:00Hey, I love a good "Idol" grassy knoll theory as m...<I>Hey, I love a good "Idol" grassy knoll theory as much as the next guy, but if anything, this result confirms for me that the show isn't rigged. The producers and judges were so in the tank for Adam all season that the only way I would believe a Kris win was if it was the actual voting result.</I>Totally agree. I'm finally convinced the voting is legit.LAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-75899182524694227482009-05-21T12:31:03.665-04:002009-05-21T12:31:03.665-04:00I think the point Jack is making is that while the...I think the point Jack is making is that while there are legitimate reasons Kris won, we also need to acknowledge that SOME people DID vote against Adam because they are threatened by his (let's call it) ambiguous sexuality. <br /><br />I totally acknowledge what you wrote in your article, that Kris was the underdog story who showed tremendous growth and was a nice humble guy, and that's great, and I don't begrudge him his talent. And that's a great reason to vote for him. <br /><br />But I don't want to discount that there *are* people who voted against Adam simply because he's assumed to be gay. They're out there, they are a proven voting bloc, and we shouldn't pretend otherwise. <br /><br />Jack, if that wasn't the point you were trying to make, my apologies. It IS the point I want to make. <br /><br />Highlights of finale show: Cyndi/Allison duet, Kara showing up Bikini Girl (and Paula) vocally, Kiss, Queen. Best finale show I've seen to date. <br /><br />I don't think the best man won, but I think a good and talented man won, and I can live with that. The future is up to each of them now.LAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-45303778657490692802009-05-21T12:07:37.848-04:002009-05-21T12:07:37.848-04:00From what I've read, the 3 million people in Arkan...From what I've read, the 3 million people in Arkansas generated 38 million votes? Is that right? <br /><br />Holy Moly! You know that not every person in Arkansas voted. If only half of them voted, that's still.... well, a heck of a lot of texts/phone calls each!<br /><br />Now THAT is some commitment.KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-56451758305883447742009-05-21T12:01:01.616-04:002009-05-21T12:01:01.616-04:00Call me a "JFK was killed by the CIA and Mob" cons...<I>Call me a "JFK was killed by the CIA and Mob" conspiracy nut but...</I><BR><BR>Hey, I love a good "Idol" grassy knoll theory as much as the next guy, but if anything, this result confirms for me that the show <I>isn't</I> rigged. The producers and judges were so in the tank for Adam all season that the only way I would believe a Kris win was if it was the actual voting result.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17424213076478280232009-05-21T11:52:42.199-04:002009-05-21T11:52:42.199-04:00And, because of that scene, to this day I feel com...<I>And, because of that scene, to this day I feel compelled to pronounce her name is "Cyndi Low-per" (rhymes with "Wow-per") instead of the proper way, because that's how Rick says it to Terry.</I>Me too. Tough to top that line, but Rick does it wonderfully by asking "Where do you get off having(teets)?"Kevinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-53341128535784282012009-05-21T11:46:15.423-04:002009-05-21T11:46:15.423-04:00Call me a "JFK was killed by the CIA and Mob" cons...Call me a "JFK was killed by the CIA and Mob" conspiracy nut but...<br /><br />I will never be convinced that AI is totally honest when it comes to the results. I'm sure they are held to some legal standard but it's not an open sweepstakes or raffle and it's certainly not a government election. <br /><br />An accountant with a briefcase doesn't prove anything. <br /><br />I bet somewhere there's a clause in the participants' agreement that gives them room to play with results. <br /><br />Adam Lambert is a household name. He doesn't need the AI crown. Kris Whatshisname sure does. <br /><br />What better way to generate buzz and build momentum for the next AI than a remarkable shocker ending? <br /><br />Ratings are sagging. The show is getting mocked. The formula is getting tired. Need proof: a judge in a bikini! (Let's be happy is wasn't Randy). Boom. Surprise ending and now momentum and the dialog shifts. <br /><br />It's a TV show where producers should be milking all the drama and ratings out of their property. They have no business worrying about integrity. That is, until they get caught manipulating results.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05135139008278044619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-744413256728733512009-05-21T11:43:20.017-04:002009-05-21T11:43:20.017-04:00Loved that she was on the finale after Alan refere...<I>Loved that she was on the finale after Alan referenced "Just One of the Guys" yesterday. One of the best lines in that movie was after she tries telling the guy she's a girl, and his response is, "Yeah, and I'm Cyndi Lauper".</I><BR><BR>And, because of that scene, to this day I feel compelled to pronounce her name is "Cyndi Low-per" (rhymes with "Wow-per") instead of the proper way, because that's how Rick says it to Terry.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-43406008126692649332009-05-21T11:34:18.432-04:002009-05-21T11:34:18.432-04:00Guys, do me a favor: if you go to NJ.com to read t...<I>Guys, do me a favor: if you go to NJ.com to read the column, please don't read the comments. Please.</I>Hee! I got this message way too late... why on earth did I read as many comments as I did over at NJ? I fear I'll never be the same. I'll say one thing - those commenters know how to use all caps to their advantage. And their powers of articulation are stunning. Stunning!! <br /><br />I skipped the entire show up until the last 10 minutes. I was happy Kris won as I favoured him the most but I wouldn't have been terribly disappointed if Adam won - the boy's got some pipes on him. Still at the end of the day, the music I'll buy is Kris', only because Adam's upper register makes my ears bleed. And while ear bleeding might be funny the first time, it loses it's appeal on the fifth or sixth go around.<br /><br />Oh and Alan, great post at NJ, I'd say it was one of your best articles, very thoughtful and well written.<br /><br />Word Verification - delip. How NJ blog posters express their displeasure towards other posters. Ex: "Don't make me come over there and delip you man. Adam totally deserved to win. ADAM 4EVA!!"Kellyhttp://www.fatchickdiaries.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-66796791969197413362009-05-21T11:29:49.714-04:002009-05-21T11:29:49.714-04:00I was actually more impressed by the fact that Ada...I was actually more impressed by the fact that Adam is gay and completely comfortable with himself, than I was with his actual singing.Kaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-14629779746016944852009-05-21T11:17:10.495-04:002009-05-21T11:17:10.495-04:00I've been a Kara hater for most of the season. The...<I>I've been a Kara hater for most of the season. The winner's song was terrible. But after seeing her in a bikini, I'm willing to give her one more shot.</I>Same here, buddy. Can't she judge in a bikini every week?<br /><br />I like the show, but I can't believe any feels so passionately about one guy to argue to death the other guy stinks. Truth be told, both of these guys will probably fade to obscurity in a short few years, no matter what Paula says. And Adam seems destined to go back to musical theater, maybe just on a grander scale than he's been accustomed to. <br /><br />I agree that that was kick ass finale. Queen, Kiss, AND Rod Stewart's jacket? All top notch. Love when Cyndi Lauper does True Colors accoustically, but that spasm thing she did at the end freaked me out. Loved that she was on the finale after Alan referenced "Just One of the Guys" yesterday. One of the best lines in that movie was after she tries telling the guy she's a girl, and his response is, "Yeah, and I'm Cyndi Lauper". <br /><br />Also, Gene Simmons still wearing grease paint at age 60 makes me smile.Kevinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-79551302688173913492009-05-21T11:15:55.137-04:002009-05-21T11:15:55.137-04:00So, according to the AP it was BEP's decision to g...So, according to the AP it was BEP's decision to go to the twirly AI logo during "Boom Boom Pow". Per Fox, I guess instead of altering an expletive, will.i.am told them to hit the button. That's...different.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-27912724536549844382009-05-21T10:28:09.626-04:002009-05-21T10:28:09.626-04:00Jack, feel free and e-mail me if you like (asepinw...Jack, feel free and e-mail me if you like (asepinwall@starledger.com), but I'm really at a loss about what you're seeing here. Nobody's using the "Seinfeld" Defense. The only commenter who even mentioned he might be gay was Liz, and she articulated plenty of other reasons for not liking him. If anything, the "that has nothing to do with him being gay" line isn't any kind of defensive, "some of my best friends are black" kind of thing; it's a pre-emptive defense against the many people on the internet who, for weeks and months, have been loudly declaring that the <I>only possible way</I> Adam could lose would be homophobia. That meme has been out there so much, and for so long this season, that it almost becomes impossible to discuss reasons for disliking Adam without including that disclaimer. <br /><br />Just look at the idiot commenters on the NJ.com blog, on both sides of the debate. The ones who like Adam and the ones who hate him both seem upset that I didn't want to discuss the sexuality question at all, and so they're flaming me, flaming each other, and generally making fools of themselves. <br /><br />I have no issue whatsoever with anything about Adam's personal life, or his character, or anything non-performance-related. He seems like a good guy, as the backstage quote suggests. But I enjoyed maybe 30 percent of his performances, and if you asked me to buy an album from one of the two finalists, that would be Kris.<br /><br />That has nothing to do with anything but my musical tastes, and I don't think I'm alone on this.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-92002370773404959142009-05-21T10:19:40.859-04:002009-05-21T10:19:40.859-04:00@mrsb: I agree. Kris and Adam have both been total...@mrsb: I agree. Kris and Adam have both been totally supportive and classy with each other and it's nice to see. Even the cynic in me can't find anything insincere about their reactions to the results. They both seem like good guys.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-1648833141217571832009-05-21T10:07:47.779-04:002009-05-21T10:07:47.779-04:00While I don't think they'll be carving Kris' face ...While I don't think they'll be carving Kris' face into the American Idol Mt Rushmore, he was a deserving winner. My wife was an Adam fan all season, but last week she started voting for Kris b/c she realized that he was what she would listen to on the radio.<br /><br />I agree that there was a definite anti-Adam backlash in the voting, but I don't think it had much to do with his sexuality. Adam showed last night that he is a great performer and why he didn't win Idol: he was born 30 years too late. He absolutely killed with Queen and KISS. My favorite performances of his all season. If we get Dann Faraday to send Adam back to London in 1975, he could be as big as Bowie. 13 year old girls don't give a crap about glam rock.<br /><br />While the producers and judges threw Kris under the bus (compared to Adam) all season, they did one thing that I think helped quite a bit: they didn't metnion his marriage once in the last 10 weeks. Sure, they would show his wife but she was never identified as such. This probably helped with his fan base.<br /><br />I've been a Kara hater for most of the season. The winner's song was terrible. But after seeing her in a bikini, I'm willing to give her one more shot.innoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-59864861169650933622009-05-21T09:39:26.745-04:002009-05-21T09:39:26.745-04:00I think we should all take a lesson from both Adam...I think we should all take a lesson from both Adam and Kris, who have been so very kind and supportive of each other both before and after the winner was revealed. <br /><br />Kris said after his win not to worry about Adam, because he'll probably be a bigger start than Kris will be. He's a nice guy giving props to a friend.<br /><br />Adam said after the show last night:<br /><br />"And if there's anything that could come from this experience that I hope all the fans out there can pick up is that even if you're really different, there's a way to get along with each other. It's not about, "Oh, you beat me because of this" or "You're different." It's about finding the common stuff that makes it work. We got up there and did the Queen duet, and we made it work, because we found a common ground with each other."<br /><br />Kris is not a horrible person with no talent. Adam is not a sore looser blaming his loss on otters (typo, but I'm keeping it).<br /><br />Both these guys have the potential to be amazing in their respective areas, which will probably be very different from each other. That fact certainly means that there is room for them both at the top, right?<br /><br />The one thing that everyone has said, time after time, is that both these guys are really nice, humble men. I'm sure they wouldn't want anyone throwing a fit at their loss or in defending their win.<br /><br />It is, after all, just a show.KrisMrsBBradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14988742743150495260noreply@blogger.com